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New Year, New Blog (Cumin Tea)

I’ve been wanting to start up a cooking blog for a while to share my experiences and ideas, and to hone my own writing and culinary skills. Because experience is usually the best teacher, I will have tried every recipe I am going to present on this blog so I can share thoughts and commentary.

So, let’s get started!

Cumin Tea

Cumin is one of my favorite spices. It’s got a flavor that’s nutty, very mildly spicy, and refreshing (pop a few pinches of seeds and see how fresh your mouth feels afterwards), and it’d prominent in several regional cuisines. I will usually throw some cumin seed or ground cumin into curry or chili and rice, or occasionally into a salad.

Cumin is fairly rich in vitamins B6, C, and E, and contains some trace minerals such as iron, magnesium, and calcium. In addition to its culinary use, cumin provides some health benefits; it has been used to promote good digestion and boost immune function. People experiencing iron deficiencies (such as pregnant women or those suffering from anemia) can use cumin as a counterbalance.

Cumin tea is one method of consuming cumin. The process is pretty straightforward.

You will need:

1 cup cold water

1-11/2 teaspoon cumin seed (for a stronger flavor, use a tablespoon)

1 inch piece of ginger, peeled (optional)

1 cinnamon stick (optional)

Honey (optional)

This is a little more than you probably need. Oops.

Add the cumin and water together in a small pot. Bring water to a boil, and then turn the heat down to low and simmer the tea for one to two minutes. Strain out the seed, and drink while hot. You can enhance the taste and content of the tea by adding a piece of ginger or a cinnamon stick before boiling, or honey after straining.

Yield: 1 cup

Cumin tea has a nutty, very slightly bitter flavor. I drink this when I’m experiencing energy lows, but don’t necessarily want caffeine, and when I have indigestion. Try drinking a cup in the morning for a few days and see if your energy level improves. The drink tastes best when it’s hot, so consume immediately, or as soon as your mouth can handle the heat.